Guide · High-pressure hoses and reels
Pressure washer hose PSI and temperature ratings
Compare a hose's working pressure to your machine's maximum and keep burst pressure out of it. Then check the temperature rating. Maker-stated examples.
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Picks that fit
- Flexzilla HFZPW3425M pressure washer hose, 1/4 in x 25 ft, M22 (14 mm stem)Check price on Amazon
- SIMPSON MorFlex 40226 5/16 in x 50 ft 3,700 PSI cold-water pressure washer hose, M22Check price on Amazon
- SIMPSON Armor Hose 41114 3/8 in x 50 ft 4,500 PSI hot and cold water pressure washer hose, 3/8 in QCCheck price on Amazon
Short answer
Compare a hose's working pressure with your machine's maximum pressure; it must be equal or higher. Keep burst pressure out of that comparison. Then check the hose's temperature rating against the water you use, and remember that your machine's own inlet limit still applies.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Flexzilla HFZPW3425M pressure washer hose, 1/4 in x 25 ft, M22 (14 mm stem)Check price on Amazon
- SIMPSON MorFlex 40226 5/16 in x 50 ft 3,700 PSI cold-water pressure washer hose, M22Check price on Amazon
- SIMPSON Armor Hose 41114 3/8 in x 50 ft 4,500 PSI hot and cold water pressure washer hose, 3/8 in QCCheck price on Amazon
Working pressure vs burst pressure
Working pressure is the rating to compare. Burst pressure is where the hose fails, and makers state it as a safety margin, not a usable limit.
Flexzilla's spec table gives each hose a maximum working pressure, not a burst pressure.[1] ProPulse states both for its consumer UberFlex: a 3,100 PSI working pressure, and separately a minimum burst of three times working pressure with an impulse life of more than 100,000 cycles.[2] Those are maker ratings, not independent test results.
Sun Joe lists both on one page: its SPX-25H extension hose is rated up to 2,300 PSI with a 5,800 PSI burst rating.[3] The usable figure is the 2,300.
The rule: at or above the machine's maximum
Generac's manual says to replace a damaged hose with one that meets or exceeds the unit's maximum pressure rating.[4] Cat Pumps adds that a high-pressure system is only as strong as its weakest component.[5] So the lowest-rated part in the chain sets the limit, whether that is the hose, an adapter or the gun.
Use the machine's maximum PSI, not its rated or working output, for this check.
Rating examples
| Hose | ID x length | Working pressure | Temperature stated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexzilla HFZPW3425M, HFZPW3450M | 1/4 in x 25 or 50 ft | 3,100 PSI at 70°F | 70°F basis only | Flexzilla |
| Flexzilla HFZPW36425M, HFZPW36450M | 1/4 in x 25 or 50 ft | 3,600 PSI at 70°F | 70°F basis only | Flexzilla |
| Flexzilla HFZPW40525M, HFZPW40550M | 5/16 in x 25 or 50 ft | 4,000 PSI at 70°F | 70°F basis only | Flexzilla |
| SIMPSON MorFlex 40226 | 5/16 in x 50 ft | 3,700 PSI | 140°F, cold water | SIMPSON |
| DEWALT DXPA50PH | 3/8 in x 50 ft | 5,000 PSI | 140°F | DEWALT |
| DEWALT DXPA25PH | 5/16 in x 25 ft | 3,700 PSI | Cold water only | DEWALT |
| Sun Joe SPX-25HD | 25 ft | 2,900 PSI | Not stated | Sun Joe |
| Sun Joe SPX-25H | 25 ft | 2,300 PSI (5,800 burst) | Not stated | Sun Joe |
| SIMPSON Armor 41114 | 3/8 in x 50 ft | 4,500 PSI | Hot and cold to 250°F | SIMPSON |
Sources: Flexzilla lists eight SKUs from 3,100 to 4,000 PSI at 70°F, with no maximum water temperature or burst figure.[1] SIMPSON's listing rates its 1/4 in MorFlex at 3,300 PSI, 5/16 in at 3,700 and the 3/8 in Monster Hose 80398 at 4,500, all cold water.[6] SIMPSON rates the MorFlex 40226 at 3,700 PSI.[7] DEWALT rates the DXPA50PH at 5,000 PSI and 140°F,[8] and the DXPA25PH at 3,700 PSI for cold water only.[9] Sun Joe rates the SPX-25HD up to 2,900 PSI.[10]
Two hoses of the same diameter can carry different ratings. Read the part number, not the color or the ID.
Temperature
Temperature ratings belong to the part named:
- SIMPSON rates the MorFlex 40226 for water up to 140°F and calls it a cold-water hose.[7]
- ProPulse rates the consumer UberFlex to 140°F and marks it not for hot water or steam.[2]
- SIMPSON's Armor Hose 41114 is rated for hot and cold water to 250°F.[11]
A hot-rated hose does not make the rest of the system hot-water capable. Sun Joe's SPX3000 manual limits inlet water to 104°F and says never to connect the machine to a hot water supply.[12] Generac's manual requires water below 100°F.[4] Hot water through a machine like that, or through any part not rated for it, is out.
A higher rating is not more pressure
A hose rating is a limit, not an output. Your pump makes the pressure. A 5,000 PSI hose on a 3,000 PSI machine still carries 3,000 PSI, less friction loss. What a better hose can change is how much pressure you lose on the way, through a wider ID or a shorter length: see hose diameter and length.
Hoses by rating
Picks that fit3 products
For machines up to 3,100 PSI with M22 14 mm ends, choose the Flexzilla HFZPW3425M (1/4 in x 25 ft).
More on choosing
For machines up to 3,700 PSI with M22 ends, choose the SIMPSON MorFlex 40226 (5/16 in x 50 ft, cold water to 140°F; check the M22 stem size). For 3/8 in quick-connect machines up to 4,500 PSI, choose the SIMPSON 41114 (3/8 in x 50 ft); its 250°F rating helps only if every other part is also rated for hot water. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
M22 hose with a stated 14 mm stem
Flexzilla HFZPW3425M pressure washer hose, 1/4 in x 25 ft, M22 (14 mm stem)
3/8 in quick-connect hose rated for hot water
SIMPSON Armor Hose 41114 3/8 in x 50 ft 4,500 PSI hot and cold water pressure washer hose, 3/8 in QC
Next
Questions
What is the difference between working pressure and burst pressure?
Working pressure is the rating you use. Burst pressure is the point of failure and is far higher: ProPulse states a minimum burst of three times working pressure for its UberFlex. Never compare a burst figure with your machine's output.[2]
Can I use a 3,100 PSI hose on a 3,200 PSI pressure washer?
No. Generac's manual says a replacement hose must meet or exceed the unit's maximum pressure rating. A 3,100 PSI hose is below a 3,200 PSI machine.[4]
Can a cold-water hose take hot water?
No. SIMPSON rates its MorFlex 40226 as a cold-water hose to 140°F, and ProPulse marks the UberFlex not for hot water or steam. Many machines also limit inlet water, such as Sun Joe's 104°F on the SPX3000.[7][2][12]
Does a higher-rated hose increase pressure?
No. A rating is a limit the hose can take, not an output. Your pump makes the pressure; a wider, shorter hose only loses less of it.